Payson is a hidden gem in the Arizona mountains, and a great destination for retirees who want to enjoy their golden years. It also hosts several events and festivals throughout the year, such as the World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo, the Payson Mountain High Games, and the Arizona State Championship Old Time Fiddlers Contest. It offers a variety of outdoor activities and natural attractions, such as hiking, fishing, camping, and hunting in the Tonto National Forest and the Mogollon Rim. It has a mild climate, a low cost of living, a low crime rate, and a diverse culture. Payson, Arizona is a good place to retire for those who love nature, adventure, and small-town charm. There are also beauty treatments offered here, including hair styling and manicures.įAQ What is there to do in Payson AZ today? Be pleased by treating yourself to a treatment or two at the Payson Day Spa. The services offered here are massages, facials, and body scrubs. Payson is still a rodeo town: Every year since 1884 it has hosted a rodeo, now known as the oldest continuous rodeo in the world.Even if what you’re doing is sightseeing you must be tired at one time. It wasn’t until the late 1950s that a modern highway connected Payson to civilization, but the frontier traditions remained.

Perhaps that’s how this unique town has managed to preserve its colorful Western heritage.

Because of its remote location in the Tonto Basin, Payson remained isolated for much of the early 20th century. Back in the day, the valleys were a natural draw for cowboys and ranchers looking to live off the land and stave off modern trappings. The Rim rises 7,000 feet above sea level, and communities like Payson are nestled in the valleys below. The rugged landscape along the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau comprises a majestic sprawl of grasslands and pine forests. Founded as a rodeo town in the 1880s, Payson sits smack-dab in the heart of Arizona, in a region known by many as Rim Country, or simply, The Rim, thanks to its proximity to the Mogollon Rim.

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